Compact Go Bar Deck

Bradford · Mar 30, 2010

My shop is only 8' x 20' so space is at a premium. The standard size go bar deck that I had been using was a pain to store and the wooden sticks were either breaking or the wrong length, so I came up with this idea. By using springs on wood dowels, I was able to drop the height of the deck by over 10 inches. They provide plenty of clamping pressure and for what two of the Stew Mac fiberglass bars cost, I was able to make 18 of mine.

Brad

Timbuck · Mar 30, 2010

Good idea ..i like it, it's an improvement.
I've just been experimenting with one , and i don't like e'm..it's like working with an unexploded bomb..one stick prangs off in the wrong direction and the whole set up collapses...and you have to be careful in what order you clamp or you snag yourself in...I think I will go for the Vacuum method instead...or clamping, like the Pete Howlett rig.

mjanousek · Apr 6, 2024

Hi, was wondering if you switched to vacuum and if you have some suggestions? I actually already use vacuum for gluing the bridge so extended it to bracing, side lamination etc seems like an obvious choice?

Timbuck · Apr 6, 2024

mjanousek said:
Hi, was wondering if you switched to vacuum and if you have some suggestions? I actually already use vacuum for gluing the bridge so extended it to bracing, side lamination etc seems like an obvious choice?

No I went for the Cam Clamps method in the end …simple to use and takes up hardly any space… I just hang the jig on the wall.

25C2AE13[url=https://flic.kr/p/2m3rj1k]

8A8BAA82-5A66-475C-B814-F66CBB9FFC94 by Ken Timms, on Flickr-6C75-42D4-A200-DFA74B370FC2[/URL] by

mjanousek · Apr 6, 2024

thanks for taking the time and makes a lot of sense especially if you don't change bracing designs frequently. really appreciate it!!!!

Pegasus Guitars · Apr 7, 2024

Spring loaded go-bars completely solve the problem of flying sticks. I used wood sticks for a long time, and also tried fibreglas rods. Both junk iMO! My bars are made with PVC, wood dowels, and springs. They are basically copies of bars that Romanillos taught me to make in Spain. Easy to make, use, and they adjust to any bracing pattern. My guitar and uke decks are all the same height, 20". The uke decks have a 12" x 16" footprint and they easily stack 4 high in a corner. Guitar decks are bigger and heavier, so I usually only stack them 2 high. 2 slightly different lengths of bars will do all the bracing in a guitar or uke. Put the decks on a lazy Susan on your bench and cleanup is a breeze.

jupiteruke · Apr 7, 2024

Pegasus Guitars said:
Spring loaded go-bars completely solve the problem of flying sticks. I used wood sticks for a long time, and also tried fibreglas rods. Both junk iMO! My bars are made with PVC, wood dowels, and springs. They are basically copies of bars that Romanillos taught me to make in Spain. Easy to make, use, and they adjust to any bracing pattern. My guitar and uke decks are all the same height, 20". The uke decks have a 12" x 16" footprint and they easily stack 4 high in a corner. Guitar decks are bigger and heavier, so I usually only stack them 2 high. 2 slightly different lengths of bars will do all the bracing in a guitar or uke. Put the decks on a lazy Susan on your bench angle lcleanup is a breeze.

I made the spring loaded bars long so that they go against the ceiling. No go-bar deck at all to store, and any place on the bench can be a clamping area. Very convenient and portable.

Pegasus Guitars · Apr 9, 2024

Lets see, I would have to use bars 10' to 12' long. Using the ceiling sounds interesting, but I think portable decks are better for me.

Compact Go Bar Deck

Bradford

Well-known member

Attachments

Timbuck

Well-known member

mjanousek

Active member

Timbuck

Well-known member

mjanousek

Active member

Pegasus Guitars

Well-known member

Attachments

jupiteruke

Well-known member

Pegasus Guitars

Well-known member

Similar threads